Pelandagama Arachchige Laxman Wasantha Rukmal et al. vs W.M. Bandusena et al. – CA APPLICATION NO: 195/2016-2016

In the case between Pelandagama Arachchige Laxman Wasantha Rukmal, Rev. Athudawe Dharmarama, D.M. Chandrasiri, and T.S. Maduwage (Petitioners) and W.M. Bandusena (Secretary, Ministry of Education), Hon. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam (Ministry of Education), and the Public Service Commission (Respondents), the court addressed whether temporary appointees serving as Principals (Class II, Grade II) were entitled to a writ of mandamus compelling permanent appointment. It was held that temporary appointment letters explicitly precluded automatic entitlement to permanent status absent fulfillment of required service conditions, and there was no substantiated cabinet decision mandating such permanent appointments. The principle reaffirmed was that legitimate expectation cannot arise contrary to explici